Natural resources key

Letters

PAPUA New Guinea is blessed with natural resources.
But it is only when these resources are managed and utilised wisely when developments will take place and change PNG.
The task remains with the mandated political leaders.
They are the people’s brain and mouthpiece.
In my part of Aitape, West Sepik, there is a huge potential for timber, marine resources as well as gas and oil deposits yet to be tapped into.
However, to date, nothing has happened.
Why is that?
Of course, there are prerequisites to open these projects.
But I strongly believe that whether these projects come to light or not depends on the will power of political leaders.
If the leader is genuine and has a heart for the people of his electorate, he will persevere and do everything possible to ensure the projects get off the ground.
But, regrettably, PNG political norms are the other way around.
Unless the “big man” has a slice of the cake (i.e shares) in the project, he will not endorse it.
This trend has been going on for decades.
The government coffer cannot cater goods and services delivery for the rest of PNG through its normal budgetary grants’ allocation.
The alternative is development via natural resource projects.
The solution now is for the Ombudsman Commission to root out these evil practices (corruption) so, the tide of changes will turn around.
Otherwise, it will never happen

Daniel Angiwe
Observer, Aitape